A table, a wall, and a camera

GoWags - on the lower left?

Today was my first of three days at the Cressey Performance Elite Baseball Mentorship. And it was awesome.

Yes, I'm here to learn an integrated system of performance enhancement, injury prevention, and rehabilitation in athletes. I picked up more than a few worthwhile clinical assessment and treatment methods that are unique to pitchers. As physical therapist Eric Schoenberg said, "If the athlete needs to function in risky positions as in throwing, they need to be able to do it well."

More than anything, I was eager to observe the flow of a truly world-class training facility. How did they organize their clients, their staff, their equipment and programs and culture in order to achieve what they want to accomplish? What is it about Cressey Performance that makes the business and clients so successful?

The reason for their success is not gear or some outlandish facility. Their success is not due to any one exercise or program. There is no high-tech instrument for measurement and evaluation. They have a lot of free weights, two cable type systems, and loads of open space to move. But today we didn't even get into that.

Cinderblock Wall = state-of-the-art equipment!

At one point I realized that we drove 6-hours to learn how to use a table, a wall, and a camera. Most everything they spoke or demonstrated today involved one of these items that can be found in any rehab or training facility across the country.

Of course, what is valuable (far beyond a $10 per month Planet Fitness membership) is their experience and know-how. What Cressey et. al. offers to their clients and other allied health professionals like me is a holistic approach to managing the athlete (rather than only weight lifting or pitching instruction or injury rehab) AND the ability to communicate their message exceedingly well

The very first thing Eric Cressey spoke about was genuinely caring about the client. Of course that's not all you need to succeed, but it's a necessary starting point.


In my practice, people often ask if they should be doing something. Should I have adjustments for this? Should I be doing Yoga? What shoes do I need? The bottom line is that it's impossible to truly know the physical and psychological needs of an athlete without having time with them. A *quality* assessment requires much time and knowledge, something that will always demand more than $10/month. But this is critical to accomplish what Cressey defines as true success; empowering the athlete and his/her parents to be able to advocate for themselves. And it's the only way to establish mutual caring.